CHOWAN ARTS COUNCIL KICKS OFF JULY 4 WEEK

Sitting in my office Monday morning editing videos from the weekend's events, I found myself still mesmerized by what our community had just experienced. As I reflected on Edenton's week-long celebration of America's 250th birthday, I realized the red, white and blue extravaganza had packed more into a few short days than anyone could have imagined.

In many ways, this weekend may one day be remembered as an important moment in our own community's history. The speeches delivered during the Daughters of the American Revolution's annual Reading of the Declaration of Independence were inspiring and carried messages that will resonate for years to come.

The celebration actually began a week earlier with another wonderful evening hosted by the Chowan Arts Council honoring Mary Small for her years of service as Board President. Guests gathered on the patio, enjoyed music by the Michael Clark Band, and spent the evening visiting with friends while celebrating Mary's many contributions to the arts community.

On Wednesday, I stopped by Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library to view its beautiful American Independence display in the large window overlooking the patio. Library Assistant Erica Newman once again demonstrated her creativity by incorporating her American Girl dolls dressed in period clothing, including a wonderful recreation of Betsy Ross sewing the nation's first flag. If you haven't seen it yet, stop by before the display changes. It is well worth the visit.

John and I were up early Saturday morning to position our cameras for the DAR's 250th Anniversary celebration on the Courthouse Green. There is simply nothing quite like Edenton's annual Fourth of July Reading of the Declaration of Independence before a crowd of nearly 1,000 people. This year, however, the program reached an entirely new level as our community celebrated America's semiquincentennial.

Sponsored each year by the Daughters of the American Revolution and coordinated for the past 27 years by Beth Taylor, the ceremony has become one of Edenton's most treasured traditions. Beth has announced this will be her final year coordinating the event, and I honestly cannot imagine anyone topping what she and her team accomplished this year.

The Courthouse Green and the surrounding homes were filled with friends, neighbors, visitors, families, and, perhaps most importantly, children experiencing history together. New additions to the program included several guest speakers and a beautiful Brass Quintet, commissioned by the Rev. Melody Perdue of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which provided the perfect musical backdrop for the morning. Rev. Perdue also offered the day’s prayer and benediction.  

As they have for the past decade or so, members of Unanimity Lodge laid a wreath at the foot of Joseph Hewes' monument, honoring one of Edenton's most distinguished Founding Fathers.

Each speaker brought a meaningful message.

Chowan County Commission Chair Bob Kirby spoke thoughtfully about the importance of volunteerism and community service.

Edenton Mayor Hackney High expressed and focused gratitude for the sacrifices of those who came before us and reminded everyone to cherish the freedoms our forefathers fought to secure while continuing the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

Edenton Historical Commission Executive Director Robert Leath shared the remarkable story of Joseph Hewes, one of the three North Carolinian signers of the Declaration of Independence and one of Edenton's greatest historical figures.

Edenton Orator Jonathan Tobias delivered a passionate presentation titled ‘Why Are We Here Today?’ provoking thought among the crowd,  reminding everyone that “patriotism is not simply inherited—it must be protected, nurtured, and passed to future generations”.

Chris Grimes, Chaplain General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution, led the audience in reciting the American's Creed, inviting everyone to participate together. 

Retired Senator Bob Steinburg delivered a thoughtful reading of the Declaration of Independence, carefully emphasizing the significance of every word. Throughout the ceremony, outstanding musical selections by Chris Nagle added moments of reflection and inspiration.

It was, without question, one of the finest community programs I have ever attended.

The best way to describe the morning is simply to encourage you to experience it yourself by watching the videos. If you were unable to attend, I hope you will take the time to listen to each of the speeches. Every one of them was thoughtful, encouraging, and remarkably relevant. They reminded us that this is our country, this is our time, and each of us has a responsibility to become actively involved in preserving the freedoms so many sacrificed to secure. We truly do make a difference.

Following the ceremony, hundreds gathered along the waterfront to participate in "Flags Across America," waving American flags as a drone captured the unforgettable scene from above.

As the Courthouse Green emptied, children and families quickly lined up for Edenton's annual decorated bicycle and golf cart parade. Bright red, white, and blue decorations filled the streets as another chapter of the celebration began.

The 250th Anniversary Committee, the Edenton Police Department, town and county employees, and especially Timmy Turner, Main Street Edenton's Event Coordinator, whose months of planning and countless hours of work helped make the weekend such an overwhelming success deserve a standing ovation and three cheers. Their dedication was on full display from the beginning to the end of the weekend. 

The day continued with smiles everywhere as children enjoyed games sponsored by the Edenton Optimist Club, cooled off with ice cream on a sweltering day that topped 100 degrees, and filled the waterfront with laughter.

One of the afternoon's biggest hits was the "Anything That Floats" competition, sponsored by Harbor Town Cruises and organized by Managing Director Ted Warren. Creativity was everywhere, but first-place honors went to Bayside Bakery & Boards. Owners Heather and Patrick Sexton paddled their inflatable horse pulling a giant 250th birthday cake to victory, earning a grand prize of a private Albemarle Queen cruise for up to 100 guests. It was one of the day's funniest and most memorable moments.

As evening settled over Edenton Bay, music by The Main Street Band filled the Herringbone Restaurant's waterfront while families relaxed, danced, and visited with friends before the fireworks.

Then came the grand finale.

For more than 40 years, the Edenton Optimist Club has provided our community with an Independence Day fireworks celebration, and this year's spectacular display did not disappoint. Brilliant bursts of color illuminated the sky over Edenton Bay as thousands of spectators cheered from the waterfront.

As John and I walked through the park before the show, I was genuinely astonished by the number of people gathered along the shoreline. The waterfront was filled with families enjoying food trucks, vendors, music, and simply spending time together. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing so many people enjoying our beautiful park.

Wow. What a day. What a town. What an incredible community.

It was a day filled with gratitude, patriotism, laughter, friendship, and memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you, Edenton, for hosting  a celebration we will never forget. It is a memory I'll truly cherish.

Karen Foley

The biggest cake in Edenton on the Fourth of July wasn't sitting in a bakery window—it was floating across Edenton Bay.

Complete with three towering layers, waving American flags, glittering stars, sparkling streamers, and even a floating horse with the Sexton riding on top, the patriotic masterpiece attempted to glide across the harbor as Heather and Pat Sexton paddled furiously in Edenton's inaugural Stars, Stripes and Floating Tea Party Costume Parade.

For a few minutes, spectators weren't watching a boat parade, they were watching the bakery on the water.

The Sextons, owners of Bayside Bakery and Boards, transformed their floating platform into an oversized patriotic cake that looked almost too real to float. As they paddled through the inner harbor, it appeared they were racing to get a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies out of the oven before they became too crispy for consumption. Bayside’s baked good are amazingly consistent in quality and flavor, too crispy, never.

Since there was cake, you also needed a tea pot so Deanna Robin, Mike Ricci and Terry Wlodark, as George Washington crossed the harbor guided by Mike also rapidly paddling after taking a short dip to cool off before the strenuous effort of guiding the tea pot to harbor.  

The competition was close but in the end, the judges agreed it was the authenticity of the horse – Revere’s Ride and all that was the icing on the cake. 

When judges announced the Sextons as the grand prize winners, Heather had one more surprise for the crowd.

"Sweets are on us for the next 30 minutes," she announced.

The unexpected giveaway sent smiles across the waterfront and plenty of people hurrying toward Bayside Bakery and Boards to celebrate with an actual dessert.

According to Albemarle Queen Managing Director Ted Warren the baked goods were plentiful.

“They cleared out the entire bakery. We had boxes of baked goods. We actually gave some to the Shelter I believe,” said Warren.  

Another winning gesture for the bakery.

The event  was the brainchild of Harbor Town’s  Ted Warren, who has long said his goal was not simply to promote cruises aboard the Albemarle Queen, but to create events that encourage visitors to discover everything Edenton has to offer—from its historic downtown and waterfront to its restaurants, shops, and local businesses.

The Floating Tea Party Parade did exactly that. The Herringbone Restaurant was packed with Independence Day revelers and the overflow crowd enjoyed the event.  

The event's grand prize was unlike any other—a private charter aboard the Albemarle Queen, valued at $2,000, that can be used for birthdays, weddings, family celebrations, or just for an enjoyable ride with Ted.  

From floating cakes and tea pots to patriotic costumes and  cheering friends, the afternoon demonstrated that some of the best Fourth of July memories don't require engines or elaborate productions—just imagination, community spirit, and a willingness to paddle and paddle and paddle.  

Five years after launching her dream of owning a boutique, Simply Stated owner Hanna Davey is celebrating a milestone that reflects not only her passion for fashion, but also the relationships that have helped her build a thriving business.

The celebration, held Saturday, July 11, at Simply Stated, 318 S. Broad St., welcomed shoppers throughout the day with anniversary specials, refreshments and a special Flower Bar where guests created custom bouquets while browsing the boutique's latest summer fashions.

Located in the former Byrum's Craft Store building, Simply Stated has become a destination for contemporary women's fashion in downtown Edenton. The boutique's inviting atmosphere, carefully curated collections and ever-changing window displays reflect Davey's personal style and commitment to timeless fashion.

"My first criteria is that if I would not personally have the item in my own wardrobe, I won't have it in the store," Davey said. "That way I keep the store vibe and style consistent."

"I like to have a style that caters to a wide age range of customers. I like to offer style that is classic and will age well in your wardrobe throughout years and seasons."

That philosophy has guided Simply Stated from the beginning.

After earning a bachelor's degree in Fashion Merchandising and Consumer Studies with a minor in Entrepreneurship from East Carolina University, Davey interned with Candace Thompson at Downtown Diva in Edenton.

"She was a great mentor," Davey said. "It was pretty clear to me this is what I was meant to do once I got out of school."

Before opening her storefront, Davey launched Simply Stated as an online boutique in Wrightsville Beach. She then spent several years taking the business on the road, participating in more than 100 pop-up shops across North Carolina while building a loyal customer following.

Helping make every event possible was Hanna's mother, Karen Davey, who has earned the title of the boutique's unofficial "Momager."

"My mom has helped me since my first day in business," Hanna said. "Almost five years ago when I started as an online shop in Wrightsville Beach, she has been at my side."

Together, mother and daughter traveled throughout the state, setting up pop-up shops before ultimately achieving their shared goal of opening a permanent storefront in downtown Edenton.

"I couldn't do it without her," Hanna said. "She is the best employee I could ever have."

Karen, who spent more than 20 years teaching preschool and also coached college basketball, now works alongside her daughter at Simply Stated. She accompanies Hanna to the Atlanta Apparel Market to help select merchandise while keeping the business organized and on track.

"Our end goal was to open a storefront in Edenton, and we now are on South Broad Street," Karen said.

Asked what advice she would offer another mother considering joining her daughter's retail business, Karen laughed before answering, "Get on your daughter's payroll ASAP."

Today, Simply Stated offers contemporary clothing, jewelry, handbags and accessories selected personally by Davey for women of all ages. Customers can shop in the boutique or online, with nationwide shipping and local pickup available.

Saturday's fifth anniversary celebration reflected more than a business milestone. Friends, longtime customers and first-time visitors gathered to congratulate Davey while enjoying refreshments, shopping the boutique's newest arrivals and creating colorful bouquets at the Flower Bar.

For Hanna and Karen Davey, the celebration marked five successful years of business built on family, friendship and a shared love of helping women feel confident in what they wear.

Simply Stated is located at 318 S. Broad St. in downtown Edenton. The boutique is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed Sundays.

The Chowan Arts Council hosted a packed gallery of friends, followers and supporters of Edenton photographer Tom Brennan Thursday evening as  he unveiled a three year project documenting the in- place history of Hayes Farm before it was packed for storage.

Hayes Farm is currently undergoing a restoration project which in itself is historic. Brennan has been looking through the lens for the past three years documenting the past and present for the future.

Brennan began his career when the cost of a some cameras were less expensive than a tank of gas. He shot his first show in 1978 with a $1.50 plastic drug store camera. Back then he had no idea he would one day be recording history and the former lifestyle of Hayes Farm.

It was a move to an old home in Virginia opening Brennan’s lens to capture historic artistry while making the same.  

“In the early 1990s, we lived in Sunbeam, Virginia, where we bought a historic home built in the early 1800s by Clement Rochelle, Sheriff of Southampton County during Nat Turner’s 1831 rebellion. Turner was held in the county jail Rochelle had built around 1824, then tried, convicted, and executed while Rochelle was sheriff,” adventurously explained Brennan. “Living in that house sparked my fascination with its history. I photographed everything—from etched windowpanes and doodles on the old kitchen door to the hand-hewn beams beneath the house and the outbuildings, including a one-room schoolhouse. I was captivated by the stories these old homes could tell. That interest led me across Southampton County, photographing historic churches, courthouses, homes, and other landmarks. The project became a calendar I produced for the Southampton County Chamber of Commerce, celebrating the county’s architectural heritage”

Brennan reached out to Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation Executive Director Sambo Dixon and asked if it were possible to photograph Haye’s still-in-place history.  

“I was really sick when putting this whole deal together to preserve Hayes. Then Tom called and said he wanted to take some photos, really before the restoration even began. I think his work captures the real spirit of Hayes. My favorite is the photograph of the library. 
When we got there, it was filled with you 300 years of Edenton history. That's all packed up right now in storage, but to be brought back soon,” said Dixon.

Brennan explained photographing Hayes was an amazing experience he was honored to have the opportunity to have captured. He explained another room sits above the library, where the baby carriage, captured in a Brennan image, was found.

Hayes is managed by the Elizabeth Vann Moore Foundation and Sambo went on to summarize in short, the projects’ massive scope and what it will mean for the entire community.

“Ms. Moore put together this foundation with ten Edontonians that she wanted to help preserve Edenton’s world history. We had no idea that something this astounding would happen, that the Hayes property would become available, and that we would actually be able to preserve it. And we have preserved the content, and we think it's probably the most original fabric than almost any other house museum in the country. 
It has every time of history,” explained Dixon. “One of my favorite quotes in 1850, a historian came to town and said that ‘the pedigree of Hayes gallops off in all directions’. It really has every type of history. 
It's got horse history. It's got Revolutionary history with Samuel Johnson and  James Iredell, along with Joseph Hewes’ and Samuel Johnson's copy of the Constitution, and the Declaration of the Independence, found in the library, is temporarily in Chapel Hill.”

Dixon said that while Brennan magnificently captured the past, Hayes’ future look will remain the same, but it’s prominence will offer a wider, community scope.

Hayes will become a place where locals can gather and use the property.

“One example is our goal with the horse stables, if you go out there now,  they're jacked up,. However, we want to have a horse therapy program with the boys and girls club. 
So we're trying to take a look at everything and ask how can this be used by local people? I mean, we want tourists, that's fine. But we are really trying to make a place that people here feel like it's a second home. 
And I think that's the most important thing,” said Dixon.“It’s a miracle it all happened. These photographs capture it. This is kind of Edenton’s small little miracle.”

For Brennan, documenting the history of Hayes was an amazing three year experience that began in 2023. His most favorite spaces and artifacts discovered include the library, featuring a unique octagonal Gothic style design, the Martin Guitar, made during Martin’s New York years (1833–1839), and the original antique carriages used by the Johnston family.

Brennan has published a book of selections of his historic photographs available at the Chowan Arts Council.

The current show will be on display at the CAC until August 13, 2025.  

A box of purple cherry tomatoes played neighbor to a crate of eggplant, a carton of papaya, some peppers, tomatoes, watermelon and other fresh fruit as residents enjoyed the first Edenton visit of the Ripe for Revival mobile market last Wednesday at the Edenton Boys and Girls Club.

Regulator Marine, supported the cause giving a ten dollar voucher to every Boys and Girls Club family member in Edenton last week. On August 5 Regulator Marine will offer the same good will at the Elizabeth City Boys and Girls Club.

It’s Regulator Marine’s way of promoting healthy eating and good nutrition habits within the community.  

"We're grateful for partners like Ripe for Revival who share our commitment to ensuring every child has access to healthy and nutritious foods.  The event yesterday afternoon was amazing.  In addition to bringing fresh produce, in their Mobile Market, to our Club families, the Ripe for Revival team provided a meaningful nutrition education program for our Club members showing our young people that our community cares about their well-being,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Mitchell Boys and Girls of the Albemarle  “We are most grateful to Regulator Marine for sponsoring the Mobile Market for our families."

The customized former bus has been transformed into a mobile market and is part of the statewide effort to combat food insecurity by bringing fresh, locally grown food directly into neighborhoods where access to healthy groceries can be limited.

Founded on the belief that communities flourish when families have access to nutritious food, Ripe for Revival works to bridge the gap between North Carolina farmers who have excess produce and residents who need affordable, healthy food.

"Our goal is reviving communities through food," said Community Engagement Coordinator Christine McKee.

The enthusiasm at the market was encouraging as a steady line of families enjoyed browsing along the aisle of the market.  

“One of the greatest joys of serving our community is seeing children and families feel supported and encouraged. Walking alongside our Boys & Girls Club families as they selected fresh, healthy foods was a powerful reminder that kindness and partnership can have a lasting impact. I am deeply grateful Regulator Marine and Ripe Revival could play a part in making this event possible. As Chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of the Albemarle and Vice President of Human Resources at Regulator Marine, I believe our greatest investment is in our children, and it is inspiring to see organizations come together to strengthen the families who make our community so special,” said Krystal Watson

Ripe for Revival traces its roots to founder Will Kornegay, whose work with North Carolina farmers revealed a troubling reality: thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables were being left in fields simply because they did not meet traditional retail standards for appearance or marketability. Recognizing both the waste and the growing need for affordable, healthy food, Kornegay began developing new outlets for surplus produce. What started as an effort to rescue excess harvests evolved into a larger mission, leading to the creation of the nonprofit Ripe for Revival and its Mobile Market program in 2020.

Today, that mission travels directly into communities through specially renovated buses and box trailers transformed into full-service mobile markets. Designed to serve rural communities where access to fresh groceries is limited, the Mobile Markets operate on a pay-what-you-can model, making nutritious food available regardless of a family's financial circumstances. In addition to offering fresh produce, the program places a strong emphasis on healthy eating and nutrition education.

Stepping aboard a Ripe for Revival Mobile Market feels much like visiting a neighborhood farm stand. Shelves are stocked with colorful selections of seasonal fruits and vegetables. The markets are known for offering prices well below those found in many traditional grocery stores, with the added flexibility of allowing customers to contribute what they are able.

Under the leadership of Kornegay and the Ripe for Revival team, the Mobile Market network now serves residents across 20 eastern North Carolina counties, reaching thousands of families each year.

The organization recognizes addressing food insecurity requires collaboration, partnering with local governments, nonprofits, churches and community organizations to expand access to fresh, nutritious food where it is needed most.

The nonprofit operates a unique pay-what-you-canmodel, allowing individuals and families to purchase fresh produce regardless of their financial circumstances. The approach not only provides healthy food but also preserves dignity by giving shoppers the opportunity to contribute what they are able.

More Than a Mobile Market

While the brightly colored market bus is the organization's most visible program, Ripe for Revival's work extends well beyond weekly food stops.

The nonprofit supports local farmers and food producers by creating new markets for their products while reducing food waste. Produce that might otherwise go unused instead finds its way onto family dinner tables. 

For Edenton residents, the arrival of the Mobile Market on July 15 represented another opportunity for neighbors to connect while gaining access to fresh, locally sourced foods.